Rincon de la Vieja, an active volcano in Costa Rica, creates a unique environment for studying the effects of how CO2 naturally penetrates from cracks in the foundations of the volcano, and how plants respond to plant rise. , experiences elevated carbon dioxide levels due to volcanic activity. Global CO2 level. Credit: Adrien Colburn
As part of a multifaceted approach to controlling greenhouse emissions, scientists are trying to better understand the effects of rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on terrestrial ecosystems, particularly tropical forests. So Cesar Teller, a climate scientist in MIT’s 1958 Assistant Professor of Career Development (CEE) class, and Josh Fisher, a colleague at Chapman University, can withstand the scientific mind in a unique environment. In Costa Rica, it is a way to study carbon dioxide emissions and their impacts.
Increased CO2 levels can lead to a phenomenon known as the CO2 fertilizer effect, where plants grow more, absorb more carbon, and provide a cooling effect. This effect could be a natural climate change mitigation device, but it remains uncertain how much carbon plants can continue to absorb. Scientists are growing concern that plants may eventually reach a point of saturation, losing their ability to offset the increasing atmospheric CO2.
Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing strategies to manage accurate climate forecasting and carbon sequestration. Here, Terrer discusses his innovative approach, his motivation to participate in the project, and the importance of moving forward with this research.
Why did you participate in this series of research and what makes it unique?
Climate scientist and longtime collaborator Josh Fisher had the great idea of using high CO2 levels naturally near active volcanoes to study the fertilization effect in real-world conditions . Such studies are difficult to carry out in dense tropical forests such as the Amazon, where the greatest uncertainty regarding CO2 fertilization exists. Large CO2 tanks and extensive infrastructure will be required, and gas must be distributed evenly across towering trees and complex canopy layers. This is not only logistically complicated, but also a very expensive task.
Our approach allows us to avoid these obstacles and collect important data in ways that have not been done before.
Josh was looking for experts in the field of carbon ecology. My expertise in understanding the dynamics of regulating carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems within the context of climate change was naturally adapted to collaborate and advance this research with him. This field was the centre of my research and the focus of my PhD. paper.
The experiments within Rincon de la Vieja National Park are particularly exciting as CO2 concentrations in areas near the volcano are four times higher than the global average. This means that we never observe how CO2 rise affects plant biomass in a natural environment.
How do you measure CO2 concentrations in volcanoes?
A network of 50 sensors was installed in the forest canopy surrounding the volcano. These sensors continuously monitor CO2 levels and allow areas with naturally high CO2 emissions from volcanoes to be compared to control areas with typical atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The sensor is Bluetooth enabled, so it must be close to get data. They capture a continuous dataset on CO2 variation and remain intact for a year. The next data collection trip is scheduled for March with another plan planned one year after the initial rollout.
What are the long-term goals of this study?
Our main objective is to determine whether the CO2 fertilization effect can be maintained or whether the plant ultimately reaches a saturation point and limits its ability to absorb additional carbon. Understanding this threshold is important for improving climate models and carbon mitigation strategies.
To expand the range of measurements, we are investigating the use of aerial technologies such as aerial storage, such as drones and plane-mounted sensors, to assess carbon storage over a wide area. This provides a more comprehensive view on the potential for carbon sequestration in tropical ecosystems. Ultimately, this study provides important insights into the future role of forests in climate change mitigation, helping scientists and policymakers develop more accurate carbon budgets and climate forecasts. If successful, our approach will pave the way for similar research in other ecosystems and provide a better understanding of how nature responds to rising CO2 levels.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Citation: Q&A: Researchers discuss the investigation of carbon sequestration limits (2025, February 20) obtained from https://news/2025-02-qa on February 20, 2025.
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